Yet another Gotoh Sideadjuster question

[vegababy]

Maybe someone can help...

In the 'manual' it says: Tighten the slotted heel-adjust nut until the fingerboard is perfectly flat

I've set up necks before, but always with strings on, for final adjustments. What's the nest way to get the neck perfectly flat in an 'un-stringed' and from the body 'detached' state ? Is there any tool I can use to see that it's perfectly flat ?

Thanks in advance !

 

[JaySwear]

*i have no experience doing this* but if i were going to (which i will be soon-ish) i would try a yardstick from fret one to fret 21/22/24 whatever's last.

and lots of eye balling. straight down the neck, like you were looking down a gun. you'd be surprised how accurately you can see bends and warps in the neck by just holding it up to your eye. thats how i figured out my first acoustic had big warpage at the 7th fret  :-\

 

[mayfly]

I actually cheat and do it with the strings at tension - but I push down on the headstock to relieve the string tension before I spin the allen key.

I push it down enough for the strings to contact the fretboard.  no issues, but YMMV depending on how ham handed you are.

 

[vegababy]

Thanks for the tips !

I'm used to the 'looking down a neck like looking down a gun' thing. Use that as well to set up 'regular' necks. Wasn't sure if that would be too 'imperfect'. Yardstick sounds like an idea, or anything straight for that matter, but I guess frets should be leveled for that perfecly as well, right ?

Not sure if I wanna do it the first time with strings on. Not that I wouldn't dare it ... just trying not to mess it up.

I see if anyone else has any experience with this...still waiting for my neck to arrive anyway...just trying to be prepared up front .

 

[DocNrock]

I adjust mine with the Floyd collapsed.  :icon_biggrin:

 

[blue313]

Maybe someone can help...

In the 'manual' it says: Tighten the slotted heel-adjust nut until the fingerboard is perfectly flat

I've set up necks before, but always with strings on, for final adjustments. What's the nest way to get the neck perfectly flat in an 'un-stringed' and from the body 'detached' state ? Is there any tool I can use to see that it's perfectly flat ?

Thanks in advance !

A straightedge and a set of automotive feeler gauges.

Here's a great cheap tip from Dan Erlewine.  Get one of these (drafting square) and chop off the top.  You can even notch one side with a file so it'll fit over the frets and read the board.

 

[vegababy]

Maybe someone can help...

In the 'manual' it says: Tighten the slotted heel-adjust nut until the fingerboard is perfectly flat

I've set up necks before, but always with strings on, for final adjustments. What's the nest way to get the neck perfectly flat in an 'un-stringed' and from the body 'detached' state ? Is there any tool I can use to see that it's perfectly flat ?

Thanks in advance !

A straightedge and a set of automotive feeler gauges.

Here's a great cheap tip from Dan Erlewine.  Get one of these (drafting square) and chop off the top.  You can even notch one side with a file so it'll fit over the frets and read the board.

Ahh...yeah...that's what I thought.

I guess you put this on top of the frets, right in the middele and look for any gaps, right ?

 

[vegababy]

I adjust mine with the Floyd collapsed.   :icon_biggrin:

That's actually a cool idea for doing fine adjustments on the side. Definitely quicker and easier than  loosening the strings and same effect. Mine's gonna have a Floyd anyway so I'll keep that in mind  :icon_thumright:

 

[blue313]

Ahh...yeah...that's what I thought.

I guess you put this on top of the frets, right in the middele and look for any gaps, right ?

Exactly.  :icon_thumright: 

The feeler gauges help to quantify the gap or "Relief" in the neck, measured in thousandths of an inch.

 

[vegababy]

Ahh...yeah...that's what I thought.

I guess you put this on top of the frets, right in the middele and look for any gaps, right ?

Exactly.  :icon_thumright:   

The feeler gauges help to quantify the gap or "Relief" in the neck, measured in thousandths of an inch.

Got it. Thanks !

 

[taez555]

I adjust mine with the Floyd collapsed.   :icon_biggrin:

That's funny,  I do the same thing(well, Wilky not floyd).  I always thought I was cheating.